California Senate committee guts major DUI reform bill

A California Senate committee has significantly weakened a major DUI reform bill through what are described as ‘hostile amendments’. The legislation originally aimed to require ignition interlock devices—in-car breathalyzers—for all individuals convicted of a DUI, a move intended to align California with most other U.S. states.

Under current California law, these devices are only mandatory following repeat offenses or crashes involving injuries. The amended version of the bill effectively removes the provision that would have required the devices for thousands of first-time offenders.

The Senate Appropriations Committee chair, Democrat Sabrina Cervantes, previously indicated that amendments had been unanimously approved. However, the updated legislation emerged without the involvement or support of the bill’s author. Cervantes, who represents the Inland Empire, was involved in a high-profile DUI arrest in Sacramento in May 2025, though she was not prosecuted after blood tests showed no alcohol or drugs in her system. She has since filed a lawsuit against the City of Sacramento and several police officers, alleging fabricated evidence and false arrest.